Treadmill and pulley used therein

Abstract

This application relates to a treadmill. In one aspect, the treadmill includes a frame structure, a track part configured to rotate with respect to the frame structure, and a rotation unit disposed in the frame structure and rotatably supporting the track part. The track part may include a plurality of slats arranged in a rotation direction and a track belt disposed at both end portions of the plurality of slats and connecting the plurality of slats. The rotation unit may include first rotation members disposed in front and rear of the frame structure. At least one of the first rotation members includes a plurality of grooves arranged apart from each other on an outer circumferential surface of the at least one of the first rotation members in a circumferential direction, to have a surface shape different from an inner circumferential surface of the track belt.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A treadmill comprising:
 a frame structure; 
 a track part configured to rotate with respect to the frame structure; and 
 a rotation unit disposed in the frame structure and configured to rotatably support the track part, 
 wherein the track part comprises:
 a plurality of slats arranged in a rotation direction; and 
 a track belt disposed at both end portions of the plurality of slats and connecting the plurality of slats, 
 
 wherein the rotation unit comprises:
 first rotation members disposed in front and rear of the frame structure; and 
 a plurality of second rotation members disposed between the first rotation members, having a diameter less than a diameter of each of the first rotation members, and arranged according to an upper shape of the frame structure, and 
 
 wherein at least one of the first rotation members includes a plurality of grooves arranged apart from each other on an outer circumferential surface of the at least one of the first rotation members in a circumferential direction, 
 wherein an inner circumferential surface of the track belt comprises no protrusions to be engaged with the plurality of grooves during rotation of the track part. 
 
     
     
       2. The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein the outer circumferential surface of the at least one of the first rotation members comprises a plurality of non-contact areas in which the plurality of grooves are formed and a plurality of contact areas disposed between the plurality of grooves and contacting the track belt. 
     
     
       3. The treadmill of  claim 2 , wherein a width of each of the plurality of non-contact areas in the circumferential direction is less than a width of each of the plurality of contact areas in the circumferential direction. 
     
     
       4. The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grooves are arranged in the circumferential direction at regular intervals. 
     
     
       5. The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein the track part is configured to be rotated, without power, by a user. 
     
     
       6. The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein an upper shape of the frame structure has a concave shape in a middle portion thereof. 
     
     
       7. The treadmill of  claim 1 , wherein the inner circumferential surface of the track belt comprises a plurality of surface regions configured to respectively directly face the plurality of grooves during rotation of the track part, and wherein no protrusions to be engaged with the plurality of grooves are formed on any of the plurality of surface regions of the inner circumferential surface of the track belt. 
     
     
       8. A pulley of a treadmill, the pulley rotatably supporting a track belt of a track part in the treadmill, the track part comprising a track belt which comprises an inner circumferential surface including a plurality of surface regions, the pulley comprising:
 an outer circumferential surface, 
 a plurality of grooves arranged apart from each other on the outer circumferential surface, the plurality of grooves configured to respectively directly face the plurality of surface regions of the inner circumferential surface of the track belt during rotation of the track part, none of the plurality of grooves configured to be engaged with the plurality of surface regions during rotation of the track part. 
 
     
     
       9. The pulley of  claim 8 , wherein the outer circumferential surface comprises:
 a plurality of non-contact areas in which the plurality of grooves are formed, and 
 a plurality of contact areas disposed between the plurality of grooves, and wherein the plurality of contact areas are configured to contact the track belt. 
 
     
     
       10. The pulley of  claim 9 , wherein a width of each of the plurality of non-contact areas in the circumferential direction is less than a width of each of the plurality of contact areas in the circumferential direction. 
     
     
       11. The pulley of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of grooves are arranged in the circumferential direction at regular intervals.